The first thing we got to understand as a country is that illegal immigration undermines the rule of law. It creates an underground economy. It can danger our national security

More Americans are working today than ever before in our nation's history.

The Oval Office is an interesting place to meet, particularly, people who are beginning to struggle with democracy and freedom because it's a reminder that the institutions, at least in this country, are always bigger than the people. Sometime we've got an all-right President, sometimes not all right. But the presidency, itself, exists.

We have a different point of view when it comes to defending America. Senator Kerry now calls Iraq a diversion. But the case of just one terrorist shows how wrong his thinking is. A man named Zarqawi is responsible for planting car bombs and beheading Americans in Iraq. He ran a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan, until coalition forces arrived. And then he fled to Iraq, where he's fighting us today.

I don't think you give timelines to dictators.

You know what else I think? You know what else I think when they say, tax the rich? Most rich people are able to avoid taxes, and if you can't raise enough money from taxing the rich, guess who pays the taxes? Yes, you do.

Let me talk about marriage, traditional marriage. First of all, I believe our society is better off when marriage is defined as between a man and a woman. It's my belief. And finally, let me encourage everybody, as we debate this issue, to do so with the utmost of respect. I mean, this is a issue that requires thoughtful dialogue. It's a serious issue. And it's one that — I hope we can have a debate in a way that is uplifting and not tearing people down on either side of the issue. And I will pledge to you — I will — I will do my very best to bring a thoughtful dialogue on this vital issue. And so what I'll do the next four years is continue to state what I believe. I'm not going to change my beliefs just because there's been an election.

I think a healthy society is one in which people own something.

I looked at the intelligence and saw a threat in Iraq. The United States Congress looked at the same intelligence, and they saw a threat. The United Nations Security Council looked at the intelligence, and it saw a threat. In fall of 2002, I went back to the United Nations, I said, look, why don't we deal with this threat together? We all see a threat, so why don't we get Saddam Hussein to do what the world has been demanding to do for over a decade, which is to reveal the weapons programs and get rid of him, for the sake of the security of the world. Your choice, Mr. Saddam. He said, no, I'm not interested. You see, given that choice whether to trust the word of a madman, a man who had used chemical weapons on his own people, or to defend our country, I will choose to defend America every time.

You can't see what you think is a threat and hope it goes away. You used to could when the oceans protected us, but the lesson of September the 11th is, is when the President sees a threat, we must deal with it before it — before it comes to fruition through death on our own soils, for example.

Lori is — when I met her backstage — the kind of person that you want really owning a home because she's so thrilled with the idea. We helped her. I say we — people here in this part of the world did.

We have overcome a recession. That means things are going backwards.

I urge others to take time out of your life to make a difference in a child who may be lonely.

We want people owning something in America. That's what we want. The great dream about America is, I can own my own home, people say.

Today when I landed, I met a fellow named Irving Hall. Where are you, Irving? Right there — stand up. Now you can sit down. Irving Hall works for our government at the laboratories, the high tech — Sandia — I think you worked there, didn't you, Irving? Yes. He worked there, and came time to retire and his boss said, what are you going to do, Irving? He said, why don't you make a difference — I believe that's what your boss told me — what you told me your boss said. See, he met me at the airplane. I'd never met Irving before.

We're on an international manhunt for those who would do harm to America, or for anybody else who loves freedom.

I remember talking to the country after September the 11th, and reminding people that this would be a different kind of war we faced. Sometimes you'd see action, and sometimes you wouldn't, that we'd be on a manhunt to find the terrorists who destroyed us.

Pete, I appreciate your friendship. Just one piece of advice. Just remember, it's the birds that's supposed to suffer, not the hunter.

Less than 60 days ago that we started our mission. And in that period of time, not only did we remove a regime which threatened our security and held the American people hostage — not only did we remove a regime that brutalized their own people, but we will stay to make sure that the Iraqi people have got the security necessary.

We've had a great weekend here in the Land of the Enchanted.

The stakes are these — whether or not our children can grow up in a free and peaceful world. Those are the stakes. And that's why I talk about making sure that the world's worst leaders aren't able to develop and harbor the world's worst weapons. Now, listen, I've got a lot of tools at my disposal, and I'm a patient, patient man. But I understand freedom. And I understand history has put the spotlight on this country. And so long as I'm the President, this country isn't going to blink, we're going to lead.

I do not have a calendar on my desk that says, at such and such a time you will stop. You, President Bush, on such and such a date will have run out the string and it's time for you to quit — that calendar doesn't exist. Because my mind-frame is this — when it comes to defending our freedoms, no matter how long it takes, that's exactly what this country is going to do.

You know, in Washington there's a lot of — there can be a lot of noise, a lot of shrill voices, people who are — people up there sometimes are the ones who like to divide people into camps and call names and point fingers.

To put it in Midland, Texas terms, any time we get a hint, we're following up on it.

I can assure you Mr. Chairman, or I wish would be Mr. Chairman - should be Mr. Chairman, and will be Mr. Chairman after next 2002.

This is a world that is much more uncertain than the past. In the past we were certain, we were certain it was us versus the Russians in the past. We were certain, and therefore we had huge nukyular arsenals aimed at each other to keep the peace. That's what we were certain of... You see, even though it's an uncertain world, we're certain of some things. We're certain that even though the 'evil empire' may have passed, evil still remains. We're certain there are people that can't stand what America stands for... We're certain there are madmen in this world, and there's terror, and there's missiles and I'm certain of this, too — I'm certain to maintain the peace, we better have a military of high morale, and I'm certain that under this administration, morale in the military is dangerously low.